If a player is not used regularly in match day experience - there is no way for them to make the step up. 

 

Giving them substitute appearances doesn't constitute a chance in my book - a chance would constitute being played in at least 5-10 matches in a season as a starter(even if the player in question is brought off in the second half). You cannot draw conclusions from a few anecdotal substitute appearances, if a player features in the side in a few matches in a row we can get an idea of whether they have what it takes to be part of the first team setup. As a club we have failed to provide such opportunities to any of the players in the academy(other than Bertrand who was pretty old by the time he eventually got some chances). This is likely due to the revolving door setup we have had with managers and their coaching staff - thus we don't provide the needed stability to implement a youth policy based on the manager we have had at the time and each new manager who arrives usually just plays the proven veterans.

 

Loaning them out and them doing well while on loan doesn't mean they are more likely to get a chance when they return. Hopefully we will have Jose at the helm long enough so he develops his vision of youth development because currently the board don't seem to regard this as a high priority. 

 

I think our board are quite happy with buying youngsters on the cheap and loaning them out so for every 10 youngsters that don't make a dent - there would be one KdB that would pay for the investment. What doesn't make as much sense to me is paying huge amounts of money for Lukaku for example and then failing to use him for god knows how many seasons now. 

Exactly. I have no problem with using players as commodities, I.e buying cheap with a view to selling on. But I do have a problem with loaning out quite clearly talented players that are ready to be part of the squad.

Kalas shouldn't be going out on loan either. Hes ready to be 3rd/4th (and proven so) but instead hes going out on a pointless loan.

I thought we were building a squad for the future? Or after falling short last season have we decided we'll just delay that for a while?

If we sell Lukaku there's no doubt in my mind we'll regret it. Surely his size, strength and speed make him the perfect Mourinho player? It can't be his work rate Mourinho doesn't like, Lukaku seems like a real pro. Something just isn't right. Mourinho hasn't had a good word to say about him.

In Jose I do trust, but disregarding Lukaku would be one of his bigger mistakes (there hasn't been all that many)

Still don't see why we are aiming for costa when we have Lukaku?!

Because we need more than 1 striker??

Lukaku

Torres

Ba

Not deep enough?

Lukaku

Torres

Ba

Not deep enough?

 

No. Not even close.

Lukaku

Torres

Ba

Not deep enough?

 

Considering Torres and Ba are complete dogsh*t, no, it isn't, they should both be sold this summer or at least get rid of one of them.

I honestly wont know how to react if he isnt in our squad in September (after the t.window passes)

 

A Chelsea fan, Young, Fast, Strong, Good Finisher, Better than the current strikers..... surely its a no brainer

There have been many discussions over the years about our apparent youth policy but I think when you look at other clubs, especially those from mid-table down and those in the top 10 that are not classed as 'rich', or teams that have small squads, they tend to present their young players with more opportunities, generally out of necessity. Whereas we and Man City for example have different pressures placed upon their managers, win, win, win the more trophies the merrier = more exposure and greater revenue for the club and ROI for the owner. There is no room or opportunity for trial and error other than tin pot trophies such as the League Cup or whatever its called these days.   Arsenal up until last season had won zilch for 9 years with young players, Man Utd are no longer looking at their youth program having been rumoured to be spending 200mill this summer. Liverpool fluked 2nd  place last season and I don't expect them to be sniffing around the top 4 for a number of years to come.  The pressures at the top are far greater than being mid table where a team can afford to experiment.  We have had some great young talent come through this club, Lukaku apparently by all accounts and from what we have seen is one of them, but unfortunately he arrived at the wrong time and for whatever reason didn't seem to impress Jose' during pre-season despite his time at WBA.  A decent season at Everton, but by all accounts he disappeared in some of the games he played and rarely tracked back, but that could be the tactics Everton employed.  I hope he does come back and given an opportunity to prove himself a worthy first teamer (probably when Torres has gone) but he better understand that the goals for this club are a great dealer higher than simply survival (as in the case of WBA) or any European spot (as in the case of Everton) and that the pressures and fear of failure are far greater here than elsewhere and that is why you have to be an exceptional young player who puts his nose to the grindstone day in an day out despite any price tag attached to him.  Compared to the apparent comments and demands by Lukaku I have yet heard any moaning from the likes of Shurrle or Salah who work hard and graft for their place and take the opportunity when it arises.

He's definitely had a part to play in that due to him thinking that he's a LOT better than he actually is.

Yeah spot on, it amazes me how people look over this aswell, he requested a move. We need players that are willing to fight for their place not ask to move when theres competition. Its nothing like Sturridge either as we didn't play him when we had an out of form centre forward, there's no way Jose wouldn't have given Lukaku a chance when the others weren't performing.

What is it with Belgians ... Latest reports coming out of Brazil. "I WILL decide my future after the World Cup." Sorry you jumped up Prima Donna you are contracted to Chelsea Football Club and WE will decide your future. I'm one hoping he has a terrible World Cup so his feet stay on the ground. He is a toothless jerk IMO

What is it with Belgians ... Latest reports coming out of Brazil. "I WILL decide my future after the World Cup." Sorry you jumped up Prima Donna you are contracted to Chelsea Football Club and WE will decide your future. I'm one hoping he has a terrible World Cup so his feet stay on the ground. He is a toothless jerk IMO

So Lukaku is a prima Donna and a toothless jerk but we are probably going to sign a guy that is a bigger sh*t head than Suarez?? The guy head butts people probably every other game and we complain about a kid who has done everything right on loan and still doesn't get backing from the manager??

Wow, some fans really need to get a grip. Costa is so f**king overrated not to mention a dirty f**k and you would welcome him over Luakau.

Edited June 15, 201412 yr by playmaker10

No matter what has been said by him or others I will personally be very disappointed if he is not back with us getting games next season.

 

Even if Costa is signed Lukaku can get regular minutes competing with him.

 

Since Torres is likely unmovable, let him be the third choice striker to Costa and Lukaku. If we go in next season with Costa, Lukaku and Torres that is several steps up from Etoó, Ba and Torres.

What is it with Belgians ... Latest reports coming out of Brazil. "I WILL decide my future after the World Cup." Sorry you jumped up Prima Donna you are contracted to Chelsea Football Club and WE will decide your future. I'm one hoping he has a terrible World Cup so his feet stay on the ground. He is a toothless jerk IMO

 

He probably meant: "I will tell you (journalists) more about my future after the WC"

don't judge him on his choice of words, not every human on this planet speaks English fluently...

 

besides, give him a chance to prove himself on the pitch before spitting him out...

if you dislike Belgian players, watch cricket, they aren't good at it

Pretty bored of the whole Lukaku media bullsh*t already.

Blame on both sides really, he shouldn't be so up front with these guys who twist his words while the media should stop trying to get a 21 year old kid into arguments with his club.

Best thing for everyone is he comes back for pre season and is intent to prove he's worth keeping, in any case if he is sold or loaned we will need to bring in another striker on top of Costa.

It also depends on the tactic, maybe Jose will start play with two strikers next season. I'm pretty sure Lukaku will be one of the important players, but I don't really want to see him leaving. He should reach the first striker position and Jose will gain what he wanted = goals. Two chances were given to him, and he proved himself. He still got the third one, world cup. Tomorrow he's going to play, and I'm pretty sure Jose will watch him. 

He was given a chance last season with us and turned it down.

I for one wont be sorry to see him leave.

I cant see him staying, despite how badly I want him too.

He was given a chance last season with us and turned it down.

I for one wont be sorry to see him leave.

 

I can't really call it a "chance". Everyone is allowed to miss penalties, same situation was with Anelka at the champions league final. After that, he wasn't the same Anelka. He won the "Golden Boot" and was important players. I'm supporting Lukaku because I know he can success, all he need is playing time and goals will arrive. But Jose is the boss, every move by him will be respected.

Edited June 16, 201412 yr by IliyaKrostin

Don't think it's the penalty he is meaning.

Lukaku was told by all accounts he was needed but he himself said if he wasnt getting first team football then he wanted to play for someone else.

You can;t give someone a chance if they don't want to earn it.

Don't think it's the penalty he is meaning.

Lukaku was told by all accounts he was needed but he himself said if he wasnt getting first team football then he wanted to play for someone else.

You can;t give someone a chance if they don't want to earn it.

 

You can take positive and negative points from here.

 

Hopefully we all would recieve a final answer about his future after the world cup, because I'm pretty sure he will be one of the best strikers of that cup and he's only 21. 

Edited June 16, 201412 yr by IliyaKrostin

Sadly, to an extent, he has us over a barrel due to the fact he only has 2 years left on his deal. If he signals that he wants to leave, this will be the club's last opportunity to cash in and recoup a significant transfer fee. If he comes back after a good world cup with a questionable attitude or lack of commitment/sulking because we buy another striker, then I'm fairly certain he'll be shipped out.

 

I said the same thing last year when he was loaned out and all the boys I go to the bridge with hung me out to dry about it. I just felt at that time the loan move was really telling and didnt really bode well given that he had been thumping them in pre-season and looked like our first choice striker without question. The opinions of my pals have mellowed a little since then and the majority of the chelsea boys Im mates with are generally on the same page re: lukaku. I'm convinced he will be leaving this summer, as I cannot see him wanting to be anywhere that doesn't guarantee him the position of first choice striker, or where is isnt the "main man".

 

He's an intelligent lad, well educated and speaks a multitude of languages fluently, its a shame that some of the stuff that comes out of his mouth appears to be a little immature and misguided. I want him here, I just wish the comments about how he wants to leave would be replaced by "I'm good enough to fight for my place against anyone in world football"... and for him to just f**king shut up and knuckle down and get on with it. 

 

Sorry, but I dont buy into this whole "he's young give him a break" excuse - he has repeatedly voiced his frustrations through the media to the extent whereby Mourinho himself even snapped back at him with the "Romelu likes to talk a lot" dig.

 

We've seen this type of thing before. Mourinho doesnt lose in these situations and if the boy thinks he's too big or too good for Chelsea then he'll be sold in the blink of an eye.

The thing is, a lot of people talk about players having a good world cup, but it doesn't mean they'll do well in the premier league. We know Lukaku can play well in the EPL, so that should be enough to prove to Jose that he's capable.

The thing is, a lot of people talk about players having a good world cup, but it doesn't mean they'll do well in the premier league. We know Lukaku can play well in the EPL, so that should be enough to prove to Jose that he's capable.

Agreed.

I think most of us hope he has a good one because it will help his case but if not then we will get the biggest transfer offer we can.

As the above poster pointed out it's in his hands really with this 2 years left...we won't be loaning out again if he doesn't sign a new deal, he will be sold.